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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Jerry, here’s my take on your questions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Go to your local Basset Rescue, and talk to them. They
have dogs with different personalities and energy levels and will do their very
best to match your family to the perfect dog for you. I would NOT suggest
that you get a puppy (or buppy as we call Basset puppies) as puppies are high
energy and very high maintenance. All puppies (any breed) eat shoes and
furniture and glasses and socks and children’s toys and backpacks and anything
else they can find, they get into everything and pee and poop in the house and
destroy stuff – they’re also sweet and adorable, but we are talking
very high maintenance for at least two years. Get an adult Basset that’s
at least 3 or 4 years old. If you decide you are Basset people
after you have your adult dog for a while, you can add a buppy to the family when
the time is right. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We have cats, so we only look for dogs who are cat friendly,
and the Rescue will be able to tell you which of their available hounds are
good or bad with cats. The Rescue will also have some dogs that they feel
would be fine as only dogs. Plan on walking your dog at least once a day –
all dogs need exercise, even my old seniors, it burns off excess energy that
would be used to make mischief. Trust me on this one, this is the voice
of experience speaking here on dogs and walking and burning off excess energy. And
on getting into mischief. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I have three Bassets, and none of mine howl, so all Bassets
do not howl. Miss Anna likes to go into the back yard and bark at the
neighbors, but I worked on teaching her stop, and she’s learned not to do
this (most of the time). All of them have learned not to go out back and
bark at night. If you are kind but firm, and also consistent, they will
learn. None of my girls counter cruise either. I got lucky there!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Bassets are messy eaters and drinkers – not on purpose
– their ears get in their food and water bowls, and then bits of food and
water drip all over the place. I just make mine eat in the kitchen,
nowhere near carpet or expensive flooring, and I mop more than I used to.
Which is a good thing, because I have never been one to over clean, if you know
what I mean. They also shed, my Gracie sheds enough for 10 dogs, Holly
and Anna are light shedders. So if you are fanatical housekeepers, these
are not the dogs for you.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Bassets are hound dogs, all breeds of hounds are hunting
dogs, and all hounds are very smart, and were bred to think for themselves in
the field. Some people say that hounds are stubborn dogs, some are and
some aren’t, but they all think and decide what they want to do. And
it’s not always what you want them to do. If you need to be in
control all the time, don’t get any breed of hound dogs. If hair on
the furniture and dried drool on the walls (only Anna drools, but she slings it
like crazy) and water dripped on the floor makes you crazy, no Bassets. If
you can relax and go along for the ride, you will find they are funny, goofy,
very affectionate, wonderful family members that make you laugh and tell silly
stories on the Daily Drool. Seriously, go talk to your local Basset
Rescue, they try very hard to find the perfect dog for your family, they want
you and the dog to be happy for the rest of the dog’s life. Welcome
to the Drool!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=JanieHmkBold><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:JanieHmkBold'>Anita Woodrum</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a href="mailto:a.woodrum@sbcglobal.net">a.woodrum@sbcglobal.net</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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